In addition to legal aspects of general administrative matters such as contracts, personnel, and regulatory compliance, the OGC is actively concerned with the evolving law of dispute resolution: issues including mediation confidentiality, ethical standards for third party neutrals, and the relationship between alternative dispute resolution and the courts are becoming increasingly important.

At the same time, as mediation and dispute resolution take place “in the shadow of the law,” the OGC provides advice and analysis to FMCS regarding developments in labor and employment law and interpretation of legislation impacting the Service and the substantive issues that FMCS mediators are called upon to handle.